Ivory
I walked down the aisle by myself.
I felt more than a thousand eyes on me throughout, naming me almost lost my footing countless times. Auden standing right by the priest did nothing to help me relax, and all the hushed whispers in the crowd only made it worst.
My stomach was in a perfect knot of nerves when I finally stopped in front of Auden, accepting his outstretched hand when I'd rather jump out a window.
The priest was quick. He barely spoke for a moment before he was asking me if I took Auden as my beloved husband and mate.
I stared up at Auden through my veil, my throat tight and my limbs still trembling from fear.
I badly wanted to say 'no', but I knew I'd only be digging my own grave like that.
"I… I do." I finally choked out, my voice wavering.
Auden's brows furrowed and his jaw clenched. He clearly didn't like the thinness in my voice.
Shit.
Thankfully, he didn't comment on that, but instead answered his own question super fast, his eyes never leaving my face for a second.
"I now pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride." The priest declared loudly, and my heart automatically dropped to my feet.
The entire crowd roared loudly, the claps defeaning as it boomed loudly. My lips quivered as Auden unveiled my face, leaning down till his lips slightly hovered over my face.
And then he stopped.
And completely pulled away.
I blinked up at him as multiple emotions rolled over me like water. All the screams and claps around us died down, and the silence in the air was so heavy, a pin falling down now would be heard.
As I stared up at him, I felt conflicted whether to feel relieved or ashamed that he had just refused to kiss me in front of such a huge crowd.
A murmur went through the crowd and I ducked my head in shame, just as Auden fully faced the crowd and began to speak.
"I'm not kissing my wife right now… cause I've decided to save that for when the two of us are alone in the bedroom, cause I wouldn't be able to stop after I start."
As his booming words filled the air, my face flushed darkly and I instantly wished I could die from shame.
"I'd also like to officially introduce my wife to all of you before kissing her in front of you. So…" he trailed off, then his eyes focused on me for a moment, then he wrapped an arm around my waist and tugged me right into his side.
His cloying scent filled my lungs and my insides trembled as I took in a deep breath.
"Meet ivory, everyone. She didn't just become my mate, she'll also become your long awaited Luna."
Everyone didn't just look shocked, they all looked and sounded mad. They were all speaking at the same time, loud, angry words directed at me.
"What the hell? She'll never be our luna!"
"She looks like a freak With those eyes!"
"How can our king settle for a hedious thing like this?"
"Oh no! We don't want a Luna like this! This one is clearly a freak!"
With each word, I felt something rip in my chest over and over again, reminding me once again that I'd never be used to being publicly humiliated and rejected like this.
And they were all clearly right.
What was Auden thinking by deciding to wed me even for a sham marriage?
He could have done this with any of his beautiful maidens here in his pack! Cause now they'd all refuse to accept me no matter what.
That's already a given.
I wasn't sure of what I expected auden to do now that all his pack members were openly complaining, but it certainly wasn't those next words that left his mouth.
"I've made my decision everyone, and you'll all learn to love and accept her. Or, is anyone saying they'd like to go against me right now?"
My eyes widened in shock despite me still staring pointedly at the ground, while those words washed over me.
Silence stretched out in the air now, cause no one uttered a single word.
"I took out the time to select her as my bride and luna. Everyone would learn to accept and respect her. You might not even fully accept her yet, since after all she's yet to prove herself to you all and that's more than important, but you'll respect her."
His voice was loud and firm, leaving no room for argument, which shocked me even more.
He cares about me getting disrespected?
"If you insult her, it directly falls on me. So, ensure to accord her the same respect you'd accord me."
Oh.
Of course he was just worried about me cringing him insult. That's what this is about.
How stupid of me to think otherwise.
As seconds passed, low murmurs began to fill the air again and I swallowed hard, my heart pounding hard against my ribs. I didn't feel auden leaning down until his mouth grazed my ear.
I sucked in a sharp breath, shivers rolling down my spine as he spoke, each word making hot air fill my ear.
"Stop looking down. Hold your head high and act like someone who deserves to stand beside me."
My heart lurched in my chest and I scrambled to do just that, my head high, my face as expressionless as possible, while my eyes were now roaming over the crowd.
This is it.
We're now married.
And now, I officially belong to him.
And if I was being honest with myself, I wasn't sure if I'd ever be able to ever escape.
I was moving around in the crowd, acting like I was mingling. When I was just holding back tears, cause I could hear all the side remarks about me from basically everyone, and they were all so bad.
I briefly contemplated running away right now. Would that even be possible? I didn't think so, but I still wished to try.
Because somehow, I wasn't sure I'd survive acting like a sham luna to people who'd certainly jeer and laugh in my face at the absence of their king.
I wasn't looking in where I was walking, which was probably why I didn't see where I was walking until I had collided hard with a very hard chest.
I gasped, stumbling and almost falling— but the person caught me, his hand firmly around my waist.
"Ah, we meet again, gorgeous!" A smooth voice exclaimed and I gasped in shock, staring up at the same man I met this morning over breakfast.
He was grinning down at me almost sweetly, his face looking even more handsome right now. His suit made him look very hot, and he fully towered over me. His scent wasn't so intense, and it had a pleasant lime undertone.
"It's you!" I cried out, a hesitant, embarrassed grin tugging at my own lips as well for some reason.
"I wanted to apologize to you for being rude to you this morning. You weren't rude to me, nor did you annoy me… you just caught me off guard and thank you for not letting me fall just now.
He laughed, dropping his hands but making no moves to step away. "How could I let you fall? I'd rather cut my hands off."
I let out a laugh after that, shocking even myself. He was being ridiculously dramatic and it was hilarious.
"And I'm glad I didn't make you uncomfortable this morning, but you don't have to apologize about that."
I let out a small sigh as he stepped forward. "Are you alright? You looked like you were deep in thought." He asked, his voice soft, completely shocking me.
My mouth opened and closed a few times as I blinked up at him.
I hadn't expected him to ask me that question at all.
And right now, I just realized that he was standing so close to me, so close that only a little gap remained between us.
And now, so many eyes were on us.
Before I could back away, I felt a hand clamp on my waist, jerking me away so fast, my head spinned. Auden's scent filled up my lungs in the next moment, making my knees wobble
"The fuck's going on here right now?" He bit out, his voice low and clenched, making my heart hammer sharply agsinst my ribs.
"We were just getting to know each other, brother." The stranger responded smoothly, a lazy grin on his lips.
My eyes widened in utter shock. This stranger is Auden's brother?!
"That's why you were right in her personal space? In public?" Auden questioned sharply but his brother only huffed and rolled his eyes.
"Ugh, chill out, Auden. I was just getting familiar with my sister in law, and you didn't even let me introduce myself to her."
I didn't need to look at Auden to know that he was fuming.
His hold on my waist tightened at that very moment.
"Leave us." He ordered at that moment.
Auden's voice was low, so the people watching us right now couldn't hear, but I was certain they were all making their own assumptions.
His brother nodded easily, his hands in his pockets as he sauntered off, the crowd smoothly parting for him like water.
And now that I was left alone with Auden, I felt like I might faint when his hand grasped my chin and made me face him.
"Why were you standing so close to him? Were you throwing yourself at him like a fucking slut?!"
I gasped, shocked as hell.
Anger lurched through me, cold as ice and I glared at him before I could stop myself, feeling a strong urge to stab his eye out.
"Why would you accuse me of that!? Do I look like a slut to you? That's insulting and disrespectful, and you really shouldn—"
I was so engulfed with rage, I completely forgot who I was speaking to for a moment until he jerked me face even closer to his, his eyes hard and burning.
"You forgot who you were speaking to?"
My eyes widened, panic whirling through me.
I didn't want to apologize cause he did insult me, but I forced the words past my mouth for my own sake.
"I'm sorry."
He was silent for a few seconds; then he scoffed. He still didn't pull away and I bet everyone staring at us right now probably believed he was telling me all the lewd ways he'd touch me tonight.
If only they knew that's never gonna happen. He was literally too disgusted by me to even kiss me after we were pronounced alpha and wife.
"You'd do well to watch that mouth of yours if you know where good for you." He warned darkly, then he added.
"And look forward to tonight, where we'd be expected to consummate our wedding. Meaning we'd have to spend a night together and do what newly weds do."
He left before I could utter another word, leaving me gaping at his retreating back in shock.
What. The. Fuck?!